ONE in seven people in Wales feel unable to cope this Christmas, research has shown.

Mind Cymru, one of Wales’ mental health charities, revealed yesterday that one in seven people feel unable to cope during the festive season and one in six feel lonelier during the holiday than at any other time of the year.

The research also showed that a third of people (30 per cent) feel pressure to have the ‘perfect Christmas’.

The wider picture shows that although Christmas is challenging for many people, the festive period is difficult for people currently experiencing mental health problems.

The number of people with mental health problems who feel unable to cope at Christmas is almost double that of the rest of the country (31 per cent compared to 15 per cent), and research also found that people with mental health problems are twice as likely as the national average to compare their Christmas to other people’s on social media.

Sara Moseley, director of Mind Cymru, said: “Although Christmas is something to look forward to for many people in Wales, it can also bring with it pressures such as financial strains, loneliness and a feeling that everything has to be perfect.”

Mind Cymru is urging people to donate to their Christmas Appeal, and to visit mind.org.uk/ourchristmas.